Pacifica's Peace Watch
Wedn. Jan. 8, 2003
Today's Stories:
Court Rules in Favor of Government in Enemy Combatant Case
Press Conference for National Peace Rally on Jan. 18th
Congressman Jim McDermott
Economist Julianne Malveaux
Author, political satirist Paul Krassner
US Seeks Additional Air Base in Turkey Aaron Glantz
Voices From Around the Country: by Scott Carrier
The audio of today's show is posted at http://www.radio4all.net/
Story: Court Rules in Favor of Government in Enemy
Combatant Case
Some rather chilling news in the government’s so called
war on terrorism this afternoon. A federal appeals court ruled
that the U.S. government was within its legal rights when
it detained an American citizen and declared him an enemy
combatant, after capturing him last November in the company
of Taliban forces carrying a rifle.
The 54-page ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
in the case of Yaser Esam Hamdi, who is being held incognito
at the Navy brig in Norfolk, has broad implications for the
Bush administration's war on terror. In reaction to the ruling
Attorney General John D. Ashcroft said, "I applaud today's
decision which reaffirms the president's authority to capture
and detain individuals, such as Hamdi, who join our enemies
on the battlefield to fight against America and its allies.”
A lower court had ruled Hamdi should not have been detained
without a lawyer and kept from communicating with his family.
Story: Press Conference for National Peace Rally
on Jan. 18th
Activists held a press conference in the nation's capitol
this afternoon to announce plans for massive, nationwide,
anti-war protests on January 18th. The mobilizations are planned
about a week before Chief UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix is
due to report back to the UN Security Council on Iraq's weapons
capabilities. According to organizers, an estimated 200 thousand
people will gather in Washington-- as well as 100 thousand
in San Francisco-- to voice their opposition to the proposed
war on Iraq.
Tape: Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, along with
Brian Becker of Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER);
by Peacewatch reporter Josh Chaffin
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Story: Congressman Jim McDermott
Debate was fierce at times in the House of Representatives
today, as members of Congress discussed President Bush's proposed
economic stimulus package. The plan would give 364 billion
dollars in tax breaks to investors in the stock market, in
an attempt to boost the faltering economy. Critics charge,
however, that it would do little to benefit average Americans;
especially while social services are being cut as the US prepares
to launch attacks on Iraq.
Tape: Representative Jim McDermott, Democrat from Washington...
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Story: Economist Julianne Malveaux
According to author and economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux,
Bush's economic plan falls short of helping the American people.
Tape: Economist and author Julianne Malveaux. Her most recent
book is "The Paradox of Loyalty: An African American
Response to the War on Terrorism."
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Story: Author, political satirist Paul Krassner
Today we spoke with author and political satirist Paul Krassner
who has been provoking and titillating us for decades. He
was the editor of the Lenny Bruce Biography, editor of Hustler
Magazine and for 42 years publisher of The Realist an underground
satirical magazine. His new book “Murder at the Conspiracy
Convention and other American Absurdities” offers laughs
at subjects that are not generally funny.
According to Krassner, news commentator Harry Reasoner once
said there were two persons whose hands he would not shake:
Paul Krassner’s and Senator Joe McCarthy.”
Tape: We open with his latest cd Irony Lives” Author
and political satirist Paul Krassner
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Story: US Seeks Additional Air Base in Turkey Aaron
Glantz
US military asked the Turkish government today for permission
to locate an airbase less than a mile from the Iraqi border
in Habur, Turkey. The proposed airbase would be in addition
to the existing US military base in Interlik, Turkey. It's
from Interlik that US planes routinely enforce the no fly
zones over Iraq, conducting bombing raids an average of three
times a week.
Tomorrow, Masoud Barzani, leader of the armed Iraqi Kurdish
Democratic Party one of two Kurdish armies in Northern Iraq
heads to Ankara. Barzani is scheduled to engage in a rare
meeting with Turkish officials, ahead of a meeting in Northern
Iraq next week of Iraqi opposition figures organized by the
Bush administration.
Tape: Aaron Glantz reports from the Turkish capitol, Ankara...
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Story: Voices From Around the Country: by Scott Carrier
How do Americans feel about the Bush administration's plans
to launch another war in the Middle East? Are people talking
to each other? And are the politicians listening? Independent
radio producer Scott Carrier recently spent 3 weeks driving
8000 miles across the country, asking the people he met these
very questions, and he presents this audio montage of his
journey.
Tape: Scott Carrier - Independent radio producer Scott Carrier
and his production entitled "State of the Union, with
production assistance by Jay Allison, Chelsea Merz and transom.org
Credits
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For a copy of today's show, please contact Pacifica
Radio Archives at 800 735 0230.
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